Name - Ashin Vittasāra

Class - M.A 2nd year (3rd Semester)

Subject – Pali Literature

Date - 21 /7 /2023

The Origin and the Meaning of Pali

In order to completely understand Theravada Buddhism, it is essential to know Pali

because Pali language is the most excellent language for Theravada Buddhists for recording the
teachings of the Buddha. Not only the Buddha’s teachings but also its commentaries and sub-
commentaries, etc. were used only Pali as the primary language by the Buddhist authors. For this
reason, it should be considered the origin and the meaning of Pali.

In the Parajika Pali, it is mentioned that if an ariyan gives up the training in the presence
of a barbarian and he does not recognize it, the training is not renounced. Here, the commentator
stated that ariyan means the Magadha language which is used by the noble people. Therefore, it
should be noted that even the language that is now understood by many people as Pali language
is called Ariyan language. In the Culavagga Pali, it can also be found by another name. The
Buddha addressed the monks that “Na bhikkhave Buddhavacanam chandaso aropetabbam. Yo
aropeyya, apatti dukkatassa. Anujanami bhikkhave sakayaniruttiya Buddhavacanam
pariyapunitum”. The commentator interpreted the term chandasa in the sense of the Sanskrit
language which served as a diction of the Vedas and the other term sakanirutti is explained by
him as signifying that form of the Magadhaka dialect which was used by the Buddha himself. It
is also used as Dhammanirutti and Sabhavanirutti in the Patisambhidavibhanga Pali and its
commentary since it can accurately express without distortion of the meaning.

Moreover, in the commentaries and sub-commentaries, it can be found as dissimilar

names such as Dhammanirutti, Sabhavanirutti, Magadhabhasa, Tantibhasa, Mulabhasa and
Pakatibhasa. Although it is used as the name of Magadhabhasa in many places, other names can
be found only a few places. Among them, the name of Tantibhasa can be found in the
Dhammapada commentary, the name of Mulabhasa in the Patisanbidamagga commentary and
the name of Pakatibhasa in the vajirabuddhi sub-commentary.
 It is considered that the Buddha himself preached his teachings in the Magadha region
since the place where the Buddha realized the Four Noble True was the region of Magadha and
the place where the Buddha wandered and preached to all beings was generally Magadha region
and Kosala region. At that time, when the kings of Magadha had great power, the Magadha
language would be understood by everyone there, hence the Buddha would preached in the
Magadha language which everyone could understand. It is stated in the Sammohavinodani
Atthakatha that when the Buddha himself put the words of the Buddha in the Pali order, He only
put it with Magadha language. Therefore, it should be noted that the origin of Pali is Magadha
language.

In connection with the meaning of Pali, the authors of Pali Grammar said that the word
Pali is derived from the verbal root pa, to protect. Pali is that which protects the meaning (Atthan
pati rukkkatiti pali). Although there were different points about the meaning of Pali, the one that
most of the scholars agree on is the meaning of “the order of the sacred words”. The term Pali is
found in many places in the commentaries and sub-commentaries. However, the use of the word
Pali does not mean the Pali language, but is the name of all Buddhist literature called Pali. If the
word Pali does not refer to the spoken language, but only the meaning of Buddha’s words, it may
be asked how the term Pali came to be. The answer is that the words of the Buddha are recorded
the language, and even the Magadha language that preserves them can be called Pali language.
The language found in the commentaries and sub-commentaries is also called Pali language
according to the term.

In conclusion, it is impossible to learn the words of the Buddha without Pali since all
Buddhist literature are recorded only Pali language. Therefore, those who want to understand the
teachings of the Buddha should really learn Pali language.

References

1. Parajika Pali (1979), Ministry of Religious Affairs Press, Yangon, Myanmar.

2. Culavagga Pali (1979), Ministry of Religious Affairs Press, Yangon, Myanmar.
3. Tipitaka Pali-Myanmar Dictionary (1964), Ministry of Religious Affairs Press, Yangon,
Myanmar.
4. Buddhagosa (1957), Sammohavinodani Atthakatha, Ministry of Religious Affairs Press,
Yangon, Myanmar.
5. Buddhagosa (1957), Patisambhidamagga Atthakatha, Ministry of Religious Affairs
Press, Yangon, Myanmar.